Leather-stretcher.



No. 896,387. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908. W. F. HYSORE & G. G. BARNSTEAD.

LEATHER STRETCHER. APPLIOATIONQIILED SEPT. 17, 1907.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LE ATHER-STRETCIIER.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed September 17, 1907. Serial No. 393,382.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. HYSORE and CHARLES G. BARNSTEAD, citizens ofthe United States and Canada, respectively, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a'certain new and useful Improvement in Leather-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

'Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in leather stretchers, and has for its object to provide an exceedingl simple'and effective device ofthis description by which a whole hide of leather or any part thereof may be placed in position upon the stretching frames without wasting the stock by cuttin off the edges to straighten'that portion wiich-is to be drawn upon, thus making a saving in the measurement of the completed stock.

Another advantage of our improvement is that the leather may be stretched in any direction required from the center or .backbone, thereby giving an increased measure of from 15 to 20 per cent.from the original size of the stock before being stretched.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those'skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, we will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accom anying drawin forming a part of this specification, in whic Figure 1 gis a side elevation of our improved stretcher so constructed as to stretch two pieces of leather at the same time. 'Fig. 2, an end view. Fig. 3, a top edge view. Fig. 4, a detail view of one of the clam s for engaging the edges of the leather. ig. 5, an edge view of this clamp. Fig. 6, a detail perspective of one end of one of the adjustable bars of the stretching frame.

In carrying out our invention as here embodied, A represents the stationary frame,

which is composed of suitable uprights and cross-bars for making a rigid structure that may be secured to the floor, and B and B are horizontal stretching bars, near the ends of which are secured t e guide strips C and C embracing one side of the uprights of the frame sov as to hold the stretching bars in place and permit them to slide 1 vertically upon said uprights. The bar B has secured to its upper edge the channel iron D, in which are formed the notches E, while the bar B has the channel iron D secured to its lower edge, having the notches E formed therein.

F represents two bolt rods, which are pivoted at G in the brackets H, and these rods ass through the ends of the stretching bar and have threaded upon their lower ends the thumb nuts I, and when these thumb nuts are manipulated the barB will be raised or lowered as the case may be. F are also bolt rods, which are pivoted at G to the brackets H and pass through the ends of the stretching bar B, and have threaded thereon the thumb nuts I for the same purpose as' that described in connection with the bar B.

J and J are two upright stretching bars,

each ofwhich is provided with a shoe K at each end thereof ada ted to travel upon and be guided by the orizontal bars of the frame, and L and-L,'are notched channel irons secured upon the outer edges of these upright stretching bars, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

M arebolt rods pivoted at- N' to the upright stretching bar J, and passing through one of the upright bars of the frame, having threaded thereon the thumb nuts 0, whereby this stretching bar may be drawn outward.

when occasion requires. M are also bolt rods, pivoted at N to the upright stretching bar J and passed through the opposite up right'bar of theframe, and having threaded thereon the thumb nuts 0, by which this having the chains Q attached thereto,

which latter are adapted to engage the notches E of the channel irons D. ,Likewise the clamps P carrying the chains Q adapted to engage the notches in the channel iron L are intended for the same purpose as that described in connection with the clam s P. Alsothe clamps P with their chains 3 for engagement with the notches of the channel 1ron L are for the same purpose;

From the foregoing description the operation of our improvement will be as follows The clamps P, P ,P? and P are secured around the edges of the leather to be stretched and the chains of these clamps are attached to their respective stretching bars,

as before described, after which the proper manipulation of the thumb nuts I, I, O and 0 will draw these stretching bars outward from the center and consequently stretch the leather to the degree desired, and as the stretching bars are independent of each other the stretching of the leather can be so carried on as to produce the best results, asfor instance, the upper and lower stretching bars may be drawn apart to a greater degree than the upright stretching bars so as to stretch the leather from the backbone, or the leather may be stretched to a greater degree ing t lengthwise than sidewise by giving the upright stretching bars the greatest amount of movement, as will be readily understood. As here shown two sets'of stretching bars are arranged side by side in the sa'me frame so that two pieces of leather may be stretched upon the frame at the same time, thus economizing space and material, and lessening the cost of construction, as it will'require less space and less materialto arrange the two series of stretching bars upon the same frame thanto provide two separate frames for each series of stretching bars. I

In Figs. 4 and 5 we have shown the construction in detail of the clamps, and each ofithese clams consists of a base plate ,0,

having a hole in the rear end thereof for the f attachment of a chain, and upon this base plate are the lugs c, to which is pivoted the aw d by the pintle 6; f represents two teeth,

preferably triangular in cross section, as inforce the jaw open when the thumb nut is backed off. In securin these clamps to the leather to be stretche thejaw is opened and the edges of the leather inserted between the base" plate and the points of the teeth 1; after which the thumb nut is screwed down so as to drive the points of the teeth through the leather and into the holes g. This will securely attach the clamps to the Without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and useful, is

1. In a leather stretching device, the combination of a stationary frame, horizontal stretching bars arranged to slide upon said frame, means for drawing said bars apart, a series of clamps adjustably attached to'the bars for holding the leather, upright stretch ing bars, means for moving said upright bars apart, a series of clamps for each of said upright bars, and means for attaching said clampls to said upright bars, as specified.

2. he herein described combination of a stationary frame, horizontal stretching bars arranged to slide u on said frame, a channel 11011 secured to sin bars, said channel lronshaving notches therein, a series of clamps for each horizontal bar, chains to which said clamps are secured, said chains ada ted to engage said notches, means for drawingsaid horizontal bars away from each other, upright bars, notched channel irons carried by said upright bars, a series of clamps for each upright bar, chains secured to said clamps and adapted to engage the notches in tie channel rons and means for drawing the upright bars away from each other, as specified.

3. The herein described combination of a stationary frame, horizontal bars, strips attached to said stretching bars in such manner as to-holdand guide sai bars upon the frame, pivoted screw bolts passin through the ends ofsaid bars, thumb nuts threaded upon said screw bolts, upright stretching bars, shoes secured to the ends of said upright bars for holding and guiding said bars upon the frame, threaded bolts pivoted to the u right bars, said bolts passing through the rame,

thumb nuts run upon the last named thread- I ed bolts, notched channel irons secured to each of the stretching bars, a series of clamps for each stretchin bar and chains secured to said clamps and'a apted to'be adjustably attached to the channel irons by engagement with the notches therein, as specified.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. HYSORE. CHARLES G. BARNSTEAD.

" Witnesses:

S. M. GALLAGHER, E. N. Sonorrnm). 

